Hi Tweets,

Alan J. Knue writes:

>The earliest Northern I have recorded is October 3, only 11 days away. Several
>other species seem to be indicating that food sources north and at higher
>elevations may be sparce this fall and winter. I have seen very large numbers
>of Evening Grosbeaks and Steller's Jays so far this September, and I recall
>hearing about an out of range Clark's Nutcracker in coastal BC. The numbers of
>Varied Thrushes I encountered this weekend also seemed somewhat high and
>unusual as well. I had one flock of 30 or more birds, and several others in
>the 10's. Perhaps these are indications of things to come??

First, October 03 is the average arrival date of Northern Shrike Lanus
excubitor in Vancouver BC, very often there's many subadult birds in the
initial southbound movement into our region. Second, much of the north has
had strong winds and cold rains, usually a signal for the breeding birds to
pack it in and head south, but they come at the end of a long hot and dry
summer during which food may not have been easily available--certainly from
all accounts throughout BC and the Yukon, the bears have had a hard time of
it. And, yes, there has been several recent large passerine influxes into
Cascadia not only from the north but also out to the coast from the
Interior, usually following the passage of one of the Pacific Lows through
the region.

Michael Price A brave world, Sir,
Vancouver BC Canada full of religion, knavery and change;
mprice at mindlink.net we shall shortly see better days.
Aphra Behn (1640-1689)